Tripod head for cameras and the like



Nov. 14, 1950 E. P. EVERS 2,530,294

TRIPOD HEAD FOR CAMERAS AND THE LIKE Filed March 14, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

god/Wm.

Patented Nov. 14, 1950 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Edward P. Evers,Overland, Mo.

Application March 14, 1949, Serial No. 81,367

8 Claims. (01. 248-483) This invention pertains to tripod heads forcameras and like instruments, and more particularly to the type by whichpan and tilt movements may be given to the instrument supported thereby.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide such a head ofimproved construction whereby pan and tilt movements may be controlledsingly or simultaneously by a single handle, which handle may also bemanipulated to lock those movements.

Another object is to provide such a head with improved locking means sothat a solid camerasupporting head may be used as distinguished from asplit head, which weakens the structure.

Another object is to provide a simple and robust construction which ischeap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the following description in which willbe set forth an illustrative embodiment of this invention. It isunderstood, however, that this invention is susceptible of variousembodiments, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing'from the principles or spirit of the invention.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, thecamera-supporting head is rockably mounted on a trunnion member which,in turn, is pivotally mounted on an upright pivot member on a base whichmay be secured to the tripod. The trunnion and pivot members aremutually interlocked by one or more intermeshing ridges and grooves,such as a screw thread, on which the pivotal movement may be had. Thetrunnion member is made collapsible, as by splitting the same, so thatit may be clamped on the pivot. Theclamping action is secured by aseparate clamping ring secured on the head and embracing the trunnionmember. This clamping ring is split and is clamped on the trunnionmember by a'screw operated by the manipulating handle, by which the panand tilt movements are also imparted. Operation of the clamping ringclamps the head on the trunnion member, which latter is collapsedthereby to grip the pivot member, thereby clamping both pan and tiltmovements.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side view, with parts insection, of a tripod head embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, I

Figure 3 is a view from the left-hand side of Fig. 1 with the shank ofthe handle shown in section,

Figure 4 is a partial side view, similar to Fig. 1, showing anotherembodiment of this invention, and

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, I designates a base provided with means, suchas a tripod-screw 2 socket 2, for securing it on a tripod or othersupport. The base I is provided with an upright pivot member 3 which maybe threaded as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A trunnion member 4 isgenerally cylindrical in form and has its end portions reduced indiameter as indicated at 5 and 6. A supporting head I is formed with ahorizontal bore 8 to receive the trunnion member 4, with a reducedportion 9 fitting the portion 5 of the member 4 to provide trunnionbearing therefor. The head I is formed with a clearance ga Ill extendingaround the lower part thereof to clear the pivot 3 as the head rocks onthe trunnion member. The head I may further be provided withcamera-supporting means, such as a top plate II, welded, brazed orotherwise fixed to the head I, which plate may be provided with suitablemeans, as a screw I2, for mounting a camera I3 thereon.

The reduced portion 6 of the trunnion member has a bearing in a splitring I4 which is secured on the head I. In the embodiment shown the ringI4 is mounted in the head I by means of a thread 15 which is looseenough to permit the ring to turn therein. The ring I4 thus serves bothas a trunnion bearing and to retain the head 1 on the trunnion member.The latter member is rendered collapsible by an axial slot I6 extendingpart way therethrough as shown in Fig. 2. The ring I4 is split at onepoint thereof as indicated at I! to render it collapsible as a clampingring.

Threaded in the head I to extend tangentially with relation to the ringI4 is a stop screw I8 having a reduced tip I9 seated in a socket formedin the ring I4 on one side of the split I! as shown in Fig. 1. Seated ina similar socket on the other side of the split I1 is the reduced ti 20of the shank 2I of a handle 22. The shank 2I is threaded at 23 to engagea complementary thread in the head I.

It will be seen that by virtue of this construction, when the 'parts areloose, by moving the handle 22 up or down the head '1 is caused to rockon the trunnion member, thereby giving the camera I3 a tilting movement.By moving the handle sidewise the trunnion member is caused to pivot onthe member 3, thereby imparting to the camera a panning movement. 'Andthese movements may be given singly or simultaneously. By turning thehandle 22 on its axis the screw 23 may be made-to force the tip 20inward to collapse the ring I4.- This clamps the ring upon the reducedportion 6 of the trunnion member 4 which in turn is thereby collapsed byclosure of the slot I6 so as to clamp the trunnion member upon the pivot3. Thus the same manipulation of the handle 22 clamps both movements ofthe head 1.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the may turn and which acts toretain said assembly on the pivot. When the ring 4 41s collapsed toclamp the parts it collapses the trunnion member upon the ring 25 tolock the head. against panning movement.

In assembling the device ofFigs. '4 and -5 the trunnion member is firstslipped intozthe head;

and the two are then slipped onto the pivot. Aftenal-igm'ng the-slotl6-with the flats 24 'the ring 25 is slipped in at the open endof saidslot, after vwhich the pivot may be rotated 180 to the positionofgFigifi. .The, ring M isthen screwed in andthe other partsassembledasshown.

It will be seen that this invention provides a simple andcompact'structure for mounting a camera-or like instrument-.ona tripodor other support in such a way as to providefreedom of movement -for.both tilting and panning, which movements are under the control of asingle handle and which movements may both be locked by operation of asingle manipulating element. It thus provides complete controlwhilerequiring thause of only one hand by the operator. As theparts areall ofsimple; form the device may be manufactured at low. cost.

. Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed is:

,1. Atripod head of the character described,

comprising, an upright pivot, a trunnion member solid at one end andcollapsible at ,-its other endmounted to turnonsaid pivot, a solid headmounted to rock -on :said trunnion member and .having camera-supportingmeans, and clamping means on said head engagingthe collapsible portionof said trunnion member operable to clamp-said head against movement onsaid trunnion member and said trunnion member against movement onlsaidpivot.

2. A tripodhead of the character described, comprising, an uprightpivot, a collapsible trunnionzmembermounted to-turn on said pivot, asolid Zhead mounted to rock on said .trunnion member and havingcamera-supporting means,

a separate collapsible clamping ring removablymounted-in said head andembracing said trunnionmember, and means'operating on'said ring toclamprsaid head against movement on said trunnion member and saidtrunnion member against movement on said pivot.

Atripod head of the character described,

comprising, an upright pivot, a unitary trunnion member split for partof its length and mounted to turn on said pivot, a solid headmounted torock on said trunnion member and having camera-supporting means,-aseparate clamping ring removablymounted on said head and embracing thesplit end of said trunnion member, and a handle adapted for manipulatingsaid head to turnthe same on said pivot and to rock the same on saidtrunnion member and operable to actuate saidclamping ringto clampbothsaid movements of said head.

,4..A tripod -head .of the -character described, comprising, an uprightpivot member, a trunnion member mounted to turn on said pivot memnionmember and having camera-supporting means, a ridge formed on one of saidmembers, a matching groove formediin the other of said members adaptedto receivesaidridge'for movement thereon, and means for clamping saidmembers against relative movement.

5. Atripod'head of the character described, comprising, an upright pivotmember, a collapsible-trunnion member mounted to turn on said pivotmember, a solid head mounted to rock on saidtrunnion member and havingcamera-supporting-.means, a ridge formed on one of said members, amatching groove formed in the other of :said members adaptedtQISCEiVBzSflid ridge for movement thereon, a separate clampingringsecured on said I head andembracing said trunnionmember, and'a handleadapted for'moving said head on one or both of said members and operableto actuate said clamping ringto clamp both said'movements of said head.

6. A tripod head-of the character described, comprising,-a base havingmeans for-mounting the same -.on a tripod and 'having an uprightthreaded pivot member, a collapsible trunnion member threaded on saidpivot member for pivotal movement thereon, a solid head mounted forrocking movement on said trunnion member, a clamping ring secured onsaid head and-embracingsaid trunnion member, and means-for actuatingsaid clamping ring-to lock said head against both said movements.

-7.'A tripod'headof thecharacter described, comprising, an uprightpivot, a trunnionmember mounted-to turn onsaid pivot,'said member havingits end portions formed to providetrunnions and being split axially ofsaidtrunnions for a portion of its length-leaving one end thereof solid,a solid head having-a bore adapted to receive saidmember and provideabearing for the solid trunnion thereof, andmeans on saidhead forretaming-said member in said boreand for gripping said split trunnion toclamp said headagainst movement.

.8. A tripod head'of the characterdescribe'd, comprising, an uprightpivot, a trunnion member mounted to turn on said pivot, said memberhaving its end portionsreduced to provide trunnions and being splitaxially= of. said trunnions for a portion of its-lengthleaving one endthereof solid, a solid head having a bore adapted to'receivesaidmemberwith a reduced portion providinga bearingfor the "solidtrunniontthereof,-a collapsible clamping ring having abore providing abearing forthe split trunnion of said-memher, said ringbeing secured insaid head to retainsaid member therein, and means, operable tocollapse-said ringto clamp ,saidsplit trunnion.

. EDWARD P. EVER-S.

.REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare-of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Jacobson Feb. 28, 1950

